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Articles 241 - 253 of 253

Full-Text Articles in Literature in English, North America, Ethnic and Cultural Minority

In Old Plantation Days, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1903

In Old Plantation Days, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

With this collection of short stories, Dunbar sought to draw on the success of his dialect poems by recreating and portraying the southern plantation during slavery. The stories focus on the stereotypical portrait of slaves as obedient workers happy to spend their lives in service of their benevolent owner. His attempt to find success was only partially realized, as his stories drew not only criticism but, in some cases, anger at their very stereotypical nature. The book itself, however, proved to be more lucrative than previous fiction works had been for the author.

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When Malindy Sings, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1903

When Malindy Sings, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

When Malindy Sings is illustrated with photographs taken by the Hampton Institute Camera Club, and also features decorations created by Margaret Armstrong. The title for this book comes from one of Dunbar's most well-known dialect poems, one which emphasizes the more soulful aspects and the heartfelt, impromptu music of many of his poems. The poem was inspired by his mother Matilda's habit of singing in the kitchen and was first published in 1896.

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The Sport Of The Gods, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1902

The Sport Of The Gods, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Perhaps a reflection of the turmoil Dunbar faced personally as his health continued to decline and his marriage ended, Dunbar's fourth and final novel, The Sport of the Gods, is considered a protest novel. Received far better by critics than any previous novel, the book tells the story of Berry Hamilton, a black butler charged with theft by his white employers. The story follows the family through the hardships they encounter as a result of this experience.

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Candle-Lightin' Time, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1901

Candle-Lightin' Time, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Candle-Lightin' Time is another illustrated publication, containing photographs taken by Leigh Richmond Miner of the Hampton Institute Camera Club. Further decorations were created by Margaret Armstrong.

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The Love Of Landry, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1900

The Love Of Landry, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Recovering from a strong bout with pneumonia, Dunbar spent time in Colorado attempting to recoup his health. One result of his time there was his second novel, The Love of Landry. The heroine, much like Dunbar, is in Colorado to recuperate and falls in love with a cowboy. Like his previous novel, his second attempt did not find favor with critics, and many focused on what they considered a weak presentation of characters.

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The Strength Of Gideon, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1900

The Strength Of Gideon, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Dunbar's second collection of short stories echoed his works of poetry in that it was a combination of works full of sentimental humor and works that told of the harsher sides of the African-American experience, both before and after emancipation. Critics tended to promote the sentimental stories at the expense of his harsher accounts of that experience. Later critics, however, suggest these stories demonstrate Dunbar's criticism of racial inequality in American society.

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Lyrics Of The Hearthside, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1899

Lyrics Of The Hearthside, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Several of the poems in Lyrics of the Hearthside had appeared previously in magazines such as The Ladies' Home Journal, The Century Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. The book also contains one of Dunbar's most famous poems, "Sympathy," which later inspired the title to Maya Angelou's autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Many of the covers of Dunbar's published works reflect the tone of the works inside. Here, for example, the cover design incorporates cotton, connecting with Dunbar's descriptions of plantation agriculture and life.

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Poems Of Cabin And Field, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1899

Poems Of Cabin And Field, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Illustrated with Photographs by the Hampton Institute Camera Club and Decorations by Alice Morse.

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Folks From Dixie, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1898

Folks From Dixie, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Dunbar's first collection of short stories was published in 1898. Much like his earlier books of poetry, Dunbar's stories examined the lives of African-Americans both before and after emancipation. While his poetry tended to portray more sentimental situations, this collection of stories offered a harsher look at the realities of the situation, especially regarding racial prejudice. His first work of fiction was well-received, which encouraged him to publish more.

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The Uncalled, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1898

The Uncalled, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

The Uncalled was Dunbar's first novel, and many consider it to be semi-autobiographical in nature. The book told the story of fictional pastor Frederick Brent, a man plagued by childhood family issues whose adventures in the ministry proved less than successful. The book was much criticized as being dull and unengaging.

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Lyrics Of Lowly Life, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1896

Lyrics Of Lowly Life, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Lyrics of Lowly Life contains primarily works from Dunbar's two previous books, Oak and Ivy and Majors and Minors. The book was supported financially by Henry A. Tobey and Charles A. Thatcher, two gentlemen from Toledo, Ohio, who had also assisted with the funding of Majors and Minors. The book also contained an important introduction, written by William Dean Howells. The success of this book prompted Dunbar to travel on a six-month reading tour of England.

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Majors And Minors, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1895

Majors And Minors, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Majors and Minors reflects the dual styles of Dunbar's poetry. The "major" poems were works written in standard English, while the "minor" poems were his dialect poems. However, it was the "minors" section which caught the attention of reviewer William Dean Howells, editor of Harper's Weekly. Howells' review of the book singled out and praised Dunbar's use of dialect, bringing national attention to those works to the detriment of his poetry in standard verse.

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Oak And Ivy, Paul Laurence Dunbar Jan 1893

Oak And Ivy, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Oak and Ivy was Dunbar's first published volume of poetry. He self-published the book and sold it for $1 to the people who rode in the elevator he operated in the Callahan Building in downtown Dayton. Dunbar also took the book to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked for Frederick Douglass in the Haitian exposition.

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